Coach’s Commitment produces Champions
A spotlight on women’s soccer coach, Graham Roxburgh
Graham Roxburgh, Trinity Western University’s women’s soccer coach, is not one to spotlight his own victories. Instead the head coach of 11 years — who has earned 129 career victories and three national championships — would much rather point to the character and relationships of his players.
But while Roxburgh may shy away from the spotlight, his players are quick to show credit where credit is due. “Graham is a great coach because he knows his stuff,” says TWU fourth-year midfielder Rebecca Ferguson, “but what makes Graham a fantastic coach is his investment in developing each individual, both as a player and as a person.
Roxburgh’s compassion for developing individuals has earned his team championship titles but surprisingly few coaching honours. However, this changed last year. In the summer of 2009, Roxburgh found himself the head coach of the Canadian FISU team that competed in Belgrade, Serbia.
As coach of Team Canada, Roxburgh armed himself with the nation’s best: Spartan midfielders Rebecca Ferguson and Melissa Mobilio, forward Nikki Wright, defender Jilian Dietrich, and keeper Kristen Funk.
His accomplishments did not end after the summer heat, and in his ninth season in the CIS and Canada West, Roxburgh earned his first Canada West Coach of the Year award when his team won their first Canada West league title (while posting a program best 11-2-1 Canada West conference record).
Mobilio has seen firsthand the compassion and the quality of coaching and knowledge that Roxburgh provides his student-athletes. The third-year midfielder, who overcame back injuries to become a star and leader with the Spartans under Roxburgh’s direction, says, “Graham recognizes our potential and pushes us to excel beyond our expectations. But most importantly he cares about us. Through my years of soccer and through all the coaches I have had, I have never had a coach tear up in our huddle and tell us how much he loves and cares about us. He has a passion not only for soccer, but also for every single one of us on the team.”
The commitment to each other as players, and as a team has been evident. During Roxburgh’s tenure, the Spartans have had eight Canada West first team all-stars, won three Canada West titles (2004, 2006, 2009) and three CIS titles (2004, 2008, 2009) — a testament to the passion the team has under Roxburgh’s leadership.
After this season, Roxburgh is tied with Dick Mosher of UBC and Tracy David of Victoria and Alberta for the most championships won by a coach, and his Spartans trail only UBC, with five, for most CIS titles.
The Spartans, who currently have an eight-game winning streak at the CIS championships and are within four games of the record 12 game streak held by UBC, will most likely have an opportunity to get to the championship again next season. Top recruits like forwards Nikki Wright and Alicia Tesan, earning consecutive CIS Rookie of the Year awards, continue to come to TWU to become Spartans and play for Roxburgh.
TWU’s Spartans volleyball and basketball teams have moved into the Langley Events Centre, bringing with them a host of fans and an abundance of energy and community spirit. The Spartans played their first Canada West Conference games in the Events Centre in October and November, and will be hosting the 2011 CIS men’s volleyball national championships in March 2011.
by Scott Stewart '92
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